Short stories

The Day I Crossed History

In June 2010, I traveled to Surry, Virginia with my parents for a family celebration. For us to get to the little town of Surry, we had to travel by ferry across the James River. After we parked our car on the ferry called Pocahontas, we got out and walk to the upper level of the deck to see over the James River.

A local historian was there to greet visitors on the ferry and began to tell us the story of Pocahontas. He said Pocahontas was "Princess" among her tribe, the Powhatan Indians, because her father was the chief. As a very big and it's 15 minute journey across the James River, the local historian continue to tell us how the Indians carefully had Pocahontas is identity from the English by changing her name from Matoaka to Pocahontas. They were freight if the English knew she was the daughter of their chief, they would kidnap her or hurt her.

As the historian continued his story, I noticed the sky was bright blue with puffy white clouds. She explained how the English crossed the James River to get to Virginia, I looked out over the James River, picturing the puffy white clouds as sails on the English ships. This is when Pocahontas first became aware of other outsiders or the "pale face" as they were called. I am adding to the Powhatan Indians hiding among the trees, on the banks of Virginia, watching the English ships approached earlier. Did they know what ship was? Did they know their lives are about to change forever?

Soon after the English is settlement into Virginia, Pocahontas befriended one of the Englishman named captain John Smith. This new friendship brought the beginning of new material and food trades among the Indians in the English. When the English were starting, Pocahontas and her attendance brought the English a large food supply that saved many lives.

As the English expanded their settlement, the Indian started to heal their land was being threatened and fighting scene started. Pocahontas was told by the English that John Smith had died from a gunpowder explosion.

With the ferry approaching the shore, we listen about Pocahontas Mary and John Rolfe, a tobacco grower. The local historian pointed towards an area on the banks of Virginia where John Rolfe tobacco plantation, Varina Farms, was located across the James River.

Many years after the first arrival of the English, Pocahontas traveled across the James River in one of the ships heading back to England with her husband and son this journey was expected to restore peace between the English and the Indians. It was in England I Pocahontis learned that John Smith was still alive, living in London. After about one here in England, Pocahontas and her family boarded the ship to return to Virginia. However, the ship but only got as far as Gravesend on on the River Thames when Pocahontas became gravely ill. She was taking a short and died. Although Pocahontis never made it back to her homeland, I feel sure her heart never left home.

Of the local historian finish the story he asked if anyone had any questions. I did not ask or reveal the one thing he did not know. Instead I walked back to our car, prepared to come ashore just as the English did. I imagine Pocahontas's family on the shores of Virginia, waiting to welcome her home, just as mine were waiting there to welcome me. As we drove off the ferry, I put my head out the window to look across the James River and think about the story I just heard. As the breeze go across my face, I suddenly felt proud to have traveled across the James River, learning more about the history of my ancestor, Pocahontas.